April 14, 2013
Dear Flight Attendants,
As promised, the Master Executive Council (MEC) is sharing the latest statistics regarding health concerns with the TwinHill Flight Attendant uniform. Starting nearly two years ago, AFA began keeping a database of those affected. As of this writing, 597 out of 3113 Flight Attendants have reported some form of health concern correlated with the TwinHill uniform. See the following table for a summary of the types of reactions experienced by those 597 Flight Attendants.
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UNIFORM REACTION DATABASE QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY |
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BODY PARTS & SYSTEMS AFFECTED* |
NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES |
PERCENTAGE BY TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES |
PERCENTAGE BY TOTAL NUMBER OF FAs |
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597 |
3113 |
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SKIN |
460 |
77% |
15% |
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EYES |
102 |
17% |
3% |
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HEAD |
27 |
5% |
1% |
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RESPIRATORY |
113 |
19% |
4% |
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CARDIAC |
6 |
1% |
0% |
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SCALP/HAIR |
69 |
12% |
2% |
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THYROID |
28 |
5% |
1% |
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AUTOIMMUNE |
7 |
1% |
0% |
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FATIGUE |
57 |
10% |
2% |
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OTHER** |
65 |
11% |
2% |
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NO DATA *** |
65 |
11% |
2% |
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*REFER TO UNIFORM REACTION DATABASE FOR SYMPTOMS AND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. |
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**OTHER: Reproductive/Nausea/Vomiting/Numbness/Tingling/ Odor sensitivity/Gastrointestinal/Liver/Metallic taste/Etc. |
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***NO DATA: Reported adverse reaction to uniform but did not provide symptoms. |
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FACT: CURRENTLY 19% OF OUR FA WORKGROUP HAS REPORTED AN ADVERSE REACTION TO THE TWINHILL UNIFORM. |
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You will find three different tables linked below in ‘References’: (1) a uniform reaction database summary (the same as above), (2) the complete uniform reaction database (with identifying information removed of course), and (3) uniform cross contamination survey results. The uniform cross contamination survey results are from responses to a recent survey sent out to everybody in our uniform reaction database. The survey asked those who have transitioned out of the TwinHill uniform to respond. A copy of the the survey can also be found linked below in ‘References’.
To summarize where we are with the TwinHill uniform, AFA filed a grievance back in November alleging management’s failure to provide a safe and healthy workplace and demanded the recall of the TwinHill uniform. AFA continues to work through the details of this particularly complex grievance. Meanwhile, AFA leadership and members of the Uniform and Safety, Health and Security Committees are working with management to procure a new uniform as quickly as possible. It our understanding that the Uniform Procurement Taskforce is getting closer to selecting a new uniform vendor.
We hope you will find the data eye-opening and informative. If you are wearing the TwinHill uniform and believe you are experiencing a correlated health issue, send an email to alternateuniform@alaskamec.org for instructions regarding what to do next.
In solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Yvette Gesch, Terry Taylor, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow
“Five Bases, One Voice”
References:
AFA ALA FA Uniform Cross Contamination Survey Mar 2013:
AFA ALA FA Uniform Cross Reaction Survey Mar 2013
AFA ALA FA Uniform Cross Contamination Survey Results Apr 2013:
AFA ALA FA UNIFORM CROSS CONTAMINATION SURVEY RESULTS Apr 2013
AFA ALA FA Uniform Reaction Database Apr 2013:
AFA ALA FA UNIFORM REACTION DATABASE Apr 2013
AFA ALA FA Uniform Reaction Database Summary Apr 2013:
AFA ALA FA UNIFORM REACTION DATABASE SUMMARY Apr 2013
AFA International Press Release: “Union Demands Recall of Uniforms and Files Grievance Alleging Management’s Failure to Provide a Safe and Healthy Workplace”:
